Ten Essentials: Illumination

To be honest: I don’t love hiking at night. I have a few old backpacker’s tricks to make sure I’m in camp well before sunset, because my preference is always to avoid being caught in the dark.

But my preference isn’t everyone’s reality. Often when driving home from Bible study, we’ll pass through Papago Park and, as dusk settles over the valley, the trails come alive with dozens of bobbing circles of light. It’s the headlamp brigade — hikers and trail runners confidently navigating rocky, uneven ground in near-total darkness, their entire world shrunk to the powerful, focused beam strapped to their foreheads.

They can only make that journey because of that light.

It’s a perfect picture of the Christian walk. We all face seasons of spiritual darkness — of uncertainty, grief, or confusion — where the path forward is completely obscured. The Bible calls this state “darkness,” a condition where people stumble because they do not know where they are going (John 12:35). In those moments, we need a source of illumination we can trust, a light that makes the impossible trail possible.

The True Light

From the very beginning, God’s answer to darkness has been light. His first act in creation was to speak into a formless void and say, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). For centuries after, his people waited for him to do it again — to pierce the spiritual darkness of the world. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a day when “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, light has shined” (Isa. 9:2).

That prophecy found its ultimate fulfillment in a person. Jesus arrived on the scene in Galilee and declared in John 8:12:

He is the great light, “the radiance of God’s glory” (Heb. 1:3) in human form. This was the light that knocked Saul off his horse on the road to Damascus — so brilliant and pure that it physically blinded him for three days, even as it opened his spiritual eyes for the first time. God performed the same spiritual act in Saul’s heart that he did in creation: he commanded light to shine out of darkness, giving “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

The Lamp for Our Feet

How do we access that great, world-altering light on our personal, dark trail at midnight? Jesus is the source — the blazing sun — and Scripture is the headlamp that channels His light into our daily path. The psalmist made this connection long ago:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps. 119:105)

But a headlamp only works if you turn it on. The Bible, left on a shelf, provides no light. It must be turned on through study, believing its words, and obeying its directions. When we do, “the entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130).

This light doesn’t always function like a floodlight, showing us a five-year plan or revealing the end of the journey. More often, it works like a headlamp. It casts a focused, sufficient beam on the ground right in front of us, giving us the clarity and confidence for the next faithful step. As we learn to lean on it, our path grows clearer over time. “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Prov. 4:18).

What the Light Reveals

A headlamp on a dark trail does more than just guide you forward — it also reveals what’s right in front of you. It exposes the gnarled root that could trip you, the loose rock that could slide, the unexpected obstacle you would have stumbled over in the dark.

The light of God’s Word does the same thing in our hearts. Scripture says that “everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (Eph. 5:13). This exposure can be uncomfortable, but it’s a profound grace. The same light that reveals the sin which could easily entangle us (Heb. 12:1) also illuminates a safer, surer path forward. It’s how God, in his kindness, helps us clear the trail of our own hearts so we can walk more securely.

A Light on the Trail

And a headlamp in the darkness even more. It doesn’t just light your own way — its beam helps others see. Anyone walking behind you can benefit from your light. People lost in the darkness are naturally drawn to a source of illumination, no matter how small.

This is precisely what Jesus calls us to. After declaring that he is the light, he turns to his followers and says, “You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).

Our “good works” are the illuminated steps we take. By faithfully walking in the small circle of light God’s Word provides — allowing it to guide our path and reveal our hearts — we become a beacon. We create a visible path of trust and obedience that doesn’t point to ourselves, but points others back to the one true Light Source, Jesus Christ. We become like stars, reflecting the glorious light of the one we follow.

One Step at a Time

Walking in the Light of Christ is a journey of trust. It’s how we become like those nighttime hikers in Papago Park, moving with confidence through the darkness — not because we can see the destination, but because we trust the light we’ve been given for the path. The trail ahead may be hidden in shadow, but in the circle of His light, the next step is always clear.

Trail Tips for Illumination

• Pack Your Headlamp. Don’t wait until you’re in the dark to look for God’s guidance. Make a daily habit of opening God’s Word, even for a few minutes, to keep your spiritual senses sharp.
• Trust the Beam. When you’re in a season of uncertainty, resist the urge to panic because you can’t see the whole path. Focus on what God’s Word has made clear for your next step and take it in faith.
• Hike with a Buddy. Walk in fellowship with other believers. Their light can help you see when your own is dim, and your light can do the same for them.

Key Passages for the Trail

• John 8:12 — Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.”
• Ps. 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
• Matt. 5:14-16 — Jesus calls his followers to be the light of the world and to let their light shine through good works.
• 2 Cor. 4:6 — For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

This article is part of the Ten Essentials series: a guide to equipping your faith for the trail ahead.
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